I’ll be the first to admit it: I thought Taylor Jenkins was a lock for the Windy City. I predicted him to Chicago because the fit made too much sense. But this is the NBA, and news broke today that has completely flipped the script.
The Milwaukee Bucks are finalizing a deal to make Jenkins their next head coach. While the mainstream media is calling this a “strong hire,” I’m here to tell you exactly why this is an AWFUL move for Milwaukee (if they don’t trade Giannis) —and why the ripple effects for Billy Donovan and the Orlando Magic are about to get very interesting.
Milwaukee: The Delusion of One Last Run
The Bucks are clearly in a “we can still win with Giannis” headspace. By hiring Jenkins—a guy with deep Milwaukee ties from his days as an assistant—they think they’ve found the culture-setter to replace the Doc Rivers disaster.
Here’s the reality check: Taylor Jenkins is a phenomenal young coach, but look at his track record. He excels when he has a young, hungry roster he can build from the ground up (think Mark Daigneault in OKC). He turned the Grizzlies into a powerhouse by growing with Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.
Putting him in charge of an aging, expensive roster with a disgruntled Giannis is a total mismatch of philosophies.
- My Take: Milwaukee needs to stop delaying the inevitable. The window isn’t just closing; it’s slammed shut. They should have moved Giannis, traded for assets, and started the rebuild today. Instead, they’re trying to put a “development coach” on a team that doesn’t have time to develop.
Billy Donovan: The Chicago Exit
With Jenkins off the board for the Bulls, the focus shifts to Billy Donovan, who officially stepped down this week. Donovan didn’t want to stick around for a teardown in Chicago, and frankly, I don’t blame him.
So, where does he land? There are two paths here:
- The College Route: A return to the NCAA is always on the table for a two-time champ.
- The “Contender” Pivot: He’s going to look for a team that is one steady hand away from a deep run.
The Prediction: Orlando Magic Pull the Trigger
Keep your eyes on the Orlando Magic. Jamahl Mosley has done a decent job, but there are growing rumbles about a ceiling. If the Magic front office wants to ensure they don’t waste the generational talent of Paolo Banchero, they might look at Donovan as the “win-now” veteran presence.
Prediction: Orlando fires Mosley and brings in Donovan to stabilize that young core and turn them into a Top 3 seed in the East.
Final Thoughts
The Bucks are trying to recapture old magic with a familiar face, but Jenkins is the right coach at the wrong time for them. Meanwhile, the Bulls are in a tailspin and the Magic are lurking as the next big power player in the coaching market.
What do you think? Is Jenkins the savior for Giannis, or is this just the first domino in a Milwaukee total collapse?
Honest Takes. Bold Opinions… We Keep it REEL.
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